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Tory leadership: Johnson, Hunt, Gove, Stewart, Javid through, as Raab eliminated – live news
Tory leadership: Johnson, Hunt, Gove, Stewart and Javid in BBC debate – live
(about 1 hour later)
The BBC debate starts at 8pm.
Q: If you become PM, you will have no mandate from the public. When will you do the right thing and call an election?
Emily Maitlis, who will present it, explains here how it will work.
Johnson says the Labour party don’t want an election. He does not think anyone in the Commons wants one.
"We've set out five chairs, but it might be that we only need four, or three... or one"Emily @Maitlis explains how #BBCOurNextPM Tory leadership debate will workHow to watch: https://t.co/ZMpRZNlnozLatest updates: https://t.co/TPPcaXT9S8 pic.twitter.com/W5pTYiwb2p
Q: But you said, when Gordon Brown took over as PM, it was arrogant not to have an election. What is different?
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has sketched out a series of negotiating demands if the next prime minister wants to open talks on new powers for the Scottish parliament, assuming the Tories try to head off a fresh independence vote.
Johnson says this is different. The next leader will be taking over at a time of crisis.
Interviewed by Chris Deerin, director of the centre right think tank Reform Scotland, Sturgeon said that top of her shopping list would be devolved powers over immigration to tackle Scotland’s significant demographic problems, with a falling birth rate and a growing elderly population.
Hunt says there must be no election until the government has delivered Brexit.
She said the next demand would be greater tax powers for Holyrood, including VAT, national insurance and business taxation. Sturgeon said a “balanced basket of taxes” would allow Scotland to make more sophisticated economic decisions.
Stewart says there must be no election until they have recovered trust.
And she added that if Boris Johnson or another Tory PM cut income taxes in the rest of the UK, a key pledge of many candidates, she may need to think carefully about further income tax rises in Scotland. “The competitivity of our tax system is something we will never be complacent about,” she said.
Gove says after Brexit the government can address other things. And then the Tories can take on Jeremy Corbyn, a “discredited Marxist”.
She suggested that new talks over Scotland’s devolved powers was already on Johnson’s mind, specifically giving Holyrood control over nearly all its taxes and spending decisions. She quipped that after a recent second world war commemoration event, Johnson asked her: “So Nicola: full fiscal autonomy. Does that buy you guys off?”
Javid says they must deliver Brexit first.
Sturgeon has been focusing heavily on rightwards, pro-Brexit drift of the contest to succeed Theresa May as a fresh justification for a new independence referendum, with her government tabling legislation to run such a vote.
By 31 October, says Johnson.
Backing for independence has slightly grown in the polls, bringing it within a few points of reaching 50% support. Many commentators and Scottish politicians believe victory for Johnson will tip that into majority support for independence. That could point to Johnson or any other victor starting the conversations Deerin raises.
And that’s it.
Andrea Jenkyns, a Brexiter, says that now Dominic Raab has been eliminated she will vote for Boris Johnson.
Javid says his 16-year-old daughter has asked him about this a lot.
For 3 years we have been fighting to deliver Brexit, with Remain MPs trying to stop the will of our people. Now Dominic has left the contest I will throw my support 100% behind @BorisJohnson. He is the last true Brexiteer standing, who resigned on principle to fight for Brexit.
We have done a lot, but “nowhere near enough”. Becoming carbon neutral will take time. But we need to be a lot more ambitious.
There are 30 Raab votes available for redistribution. It would be a surprise if most of them did not go to Johnson, who is now the most pro-Brexit figure in the race.
The questioner says none of the panel has impressed her.
Of the five remaining candidates in the contest, only he and Michael Gove voted in 2016 to leave. But Johnson resigned from cabinet over Theresa May’s Brexit plan and voted against it twice (before voting for it in the final vote). Gove backed May’s plan all the way and, unlike Johnson, has not ruled out extending article 50 again.
Q: Would you commit to getting net carbon emissions down to zero by 2025?
Here is more on Nicola Sturgeon from my colleague Severin Carrell.
Johnson says he will commit to putting the environment at the heart of his programme.
@NicolaSturgeon says @BorisJohnson asked her recently (paraphrasing) “So Nicola: full fiscal autonomy. Does that buy you guys off?” “I’m going to make that the starting point of our negotiations should he become prime minister” @reformscotland #devo20
Gove says he has met and praised Greta Thunberg. He has a 25-year environment plan.
Nicola Sturgeon has said that Boris Johnson’s “almost certain” election as the next Conservative leader has proven how sharply Scotland is now diverging from the rest of the UK, increasing the case for independence.
Q: [To Johnson] Will you stop Heathrow expansion?
In a speech to mark 20 years since devolution, the first minister said Johnson’s apparent relish for a no-deal Brexit, and his “gratuitously offensive” opinions about women and minorities are in stark contrast to Scotland’s open, diverse and tolerant politics.
Johnson says he continues to have “grave reservations” about this.
Many Scottish National party politicians and strategists, and some Tories, believe Johnson’s victory will turbo-charge Sturgeon’s quest for a fresh Scottish independence referendum, doubly so if he successfully leads the UK out of the EU.
Q: Will you stop it?
Speaking to Reform Scotland, a centre-right thinktank, Sturgeon reminded the audience her government was tabling referendum legislation to pave the way for a new vote at some point in future. She said:
Johnson says he has “grave concerns”. There are court cases under way, he says. He will follow them closely.
It is surely deeply concerning that the Conservative party is even contemplating putting into the office of prime minister someone whose tenure as foreign secretary was risible, lacking in any seriousness of purpose or basic competence and who, over the years, has gratuitously offended so many, from gay people, to Africans, Muslim women and many others.
Johnson refuses to say he would stop the Heathrow third runway going ahead - even though in the past he has opposed it strongly.
But while that, for now, is a matter for the Tories it does further illustrate the different political trajectories of Scotland and other parts of the UK. And it raises the more fundamental question of whether the UK and therefore devolution, in its current form is capable of accommodating those differences.
Javid asks Stewart why he was not willing to criticise Trump over the Katie Hopkins speech. Stewart is on the defensive, and stresses the importance of diplomacy.
I have to be candid and admit I’m not a neutral observer of these matters but it does seem to me that these days, the unionist offer to Scotland amounts to not much more than: ‘Your views don’t matter, do as you’re told and, if you don’t like it, tough, we’ll do it anyway.’
Q: I’m the Imam of a mosque. I see the impact of Islamophobia. Do you accept words have consequences?
Brexit starkly illustrates the point. The votes of people here have been ignored. The Scottish government’s attempt at compromise was rejected. And voters in the Scottish parliament opposing Brexit and a subsequent power grab were disregarded.
Johnson says of course he does. In so far as people have taken words out of his articles and escalated, he is sorry for that. But his Muslim great-grandfather came to this country because he thought it would be a beacon of decency.
Next up in the @reformscotland Devolution at 20 conversations is First Minister @NicolaSturgeon pic.twitter.com/SulPJWrabM
He forgets the name of the questioner (Abdullah).
And this is from Boris Johnson.
Q: Do you accept words have consequences. Your words about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe did?
Thank you to those who supported me in the second ballot. Very much look forward to taking part in tonight’s BBC debate #BackBoris pic.twitter.com/YJc9lYehtF
Johnson says in this case, he does not think his words did have consequences. It was the Iranian regime that is responsible for what happened to Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
This is from Rory Stewart.
Q: [To Hunt] And you have endorsed President Trump retweeting comments from Katie Hopkins.
And thank you for all the support - we seem to have almost doubled our vote again...more to come...#walkon
Hunt says that is wrong. He backed Trump’s point about Sadiq Khan having a poor record on crime. But he totally rejects Katie Hopkins’ inflammatory language.
In an article for Guardian Opinion, Tom Kibasi, the head of the IPPR thinktank, argues that, even though Boris Johnson looks unstoppable, Rory Stewart has reshaped the race. Here’s an extract:
He says he is married to an immigrant. His children are half-Chinese. But when they go to school they are treated as equals, because we are a tolerant society.
Even though Stewart has little chance of winning, he has still reshaped the race. By relentlessly exposing the deceit of his fellow candidates, Stewart’s campaign leaves Johnson weakened as he heads towards the realisation of his only guiding principle: the ambition to be prime minister. Stewart has been very effective at exposing the lie that the withdrawal agreement can be renegotiated through force of personality. He has made plain that a plan predicated on renegotiating it is in truth a plan for a no-deal exit at the end of October. As the Institute for Public Policy Research progressive thinktank has pointed out today, there are still 10 major questions that no-deal advocates have been unable to answer, from fishing to trading agreements.
Javid says he would be happy for an external investigation into Islamophobia in the Tory party.
And here is the whole article.
He invites the others: ‘Do you all agree?’ Half-heartedly, most of them seem to. That’s it then, says Javid. He says it will happen.
Johnson might be a dead cert for Tory leader but Stewart has reshaped the race | Tom Kibasi
Javid appears to bounce his rivals into accepting an external investigation into Islamophobia in the Conservative party.
Here is the New Statesman’s Stephen Bush’s blogpost on the results. Among other things, he says Rory Stewart is the big winner, but that he may now have hit his ceiling.
Stewart says the adult social care system is a disgrace.
The big winner is Rory Stewart, however. He now gets a shot at that big televised debate, where he could yet transform the whole contest. His candidacy may well be reaching its ceiling of support and Johnson’s big lead among MPs means he will be well-placed to choose his preferred opponent, who will not be Stewart.
We have not funded it properly because we have not got out of party silos, he says.
But even should he fall short at the next hurdle, he ends this contest as the de facto leader of the Conservative opponents of no deal: and as someone who, albeit from the backbenches, will be a major voice in the Brexit debates.
Gove asks: “What is your plan?”
From the Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman
He says the plan is there in the Dilnot plan.
Widespread suspicion that Williamson helped prop up Javid. Out of 50 votes up for grabs we are invited to believe that Boris only secured 12 of them. Hacks currently gathered in central lobby staring at lists of numbers and muttering “jiggery pokery”
Hunt says some of the cuts in social care went too far.
These are from Sajid Javid.
Hunt says his own government has cut the social care budget too much.
I pay tribute to @DominicRaab for fighting hard in this campaign with professionalism, drive & fresh ideas. He has a major role to play with any new PM helping Britain’s young people get a fair shot
Local authorities need more, he says.
Thank you for your support! Looking forward to tonight’s debate with my colleagues and @maitlis. I can lead a Conservative Party which connects with new audiences and creates opportunities for all. #TeamSaj
He says we leave dealing with mental health too late.
This is from Michael Gove.
He says too many children leave school without being able to read and write properly.
Very pleased to have made it through and closed the gap to second! Looking forward to making my case at the BBC debate shortly. The final two should be Brexiteers who are able to take on Corbyn, unite the party and deliver Brexit #ReadyToLead #Gove4PM pic.twitter.com/3h3kbQOLPV
Johnson says we need to invest much more in education. And we need to join up our mental health system, he says.
Gillian Keegan, the Chichester MP and a supporter of Rory Stewart, told reporters after the result was announced the momentum was with his campaign. She said:
Stewart says you need taxes to fund public services.
They’re very close now. There’s a clear winner, and between the others there are not many votes
He says we can plan for how AI and robotics will change the world of work.
It’s very rewarding. Rory’s campaign is basically honest about where we are as a country. He’s basically telling people the uncomfortable truth in some cases, but he’s being honest. And who knew there was a market for honesty in politics? I’d always hoped that there was.
Javid says he has relied on public services.
Mark Francois, the strongly Brexit-minded MP who supports Boris Johnson rather than Dominic Raab, said it was sad that Raab had been eliminated. He went on:
Q: But you supported cuts?
Whoever wins, and I hope it’s Boris, I hope they find a good place for Dom in their cabinet, because I think he deserves it.
Javid says he would prioritise health and education.
This is from a spokesman for Jeremy Hunt’s campaign.
Tax cuts can sometimes lead to more revenue, he says.
This is a solid result. It shows a steady step forward, which is exactly what we were expecting. It confirms that Jeremy is the best placed candidate to take on Boris. He’s the only candidate who can unite the country and the party by delivering Brexit.
And the country can afford to borrow more, he says.
A source in the Sajid Javid campaign says Javid will not be withdrawing from the contest before the next ballot, which is tomorrow. He put on 10 votes, the same as Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab combined, the source says. “We are fighting tomorrow’s ballot.”
Q: I have fostered more than 100 children. What would you do to reverse cuts that have affected children?
Gove says he started his life in care.
He says he has a detailed plan to target money on the poorest.
Q: What cuts would you reverse?
Gove says he introduced changes that make adoption easier. He will not reverse those.
Gove says he is the candidate most committed to working people.
He says Johnson’s tax plan, which would help people like MPs, is wrong.
He says Jeremy Corbyn is not interested in standing up for working people. He is only interested in defending Iran.
Stewart says everyone else in the contest is promising things that are not realistic. Collectively, his rivals have promised cuts worth £84bn. He says it is not the time for tax cuts. If he could deliver a realistic Brexit, he would spend money on public services.
The questioner says he thinks Hunt was the candidate talking most sense. He says he disagreed strongly with Stewart.
Q: I used to vote Tory, but now vote for the Brexit party. What is your plan to lift the tax burden on the working classes?
Javid says the government has addressed the deficit. He thinks we can now cut taxes for working people. He would do this by cutting the basic rate of tax.
Q: [To Hunt] You have said your priority is to cut corporation tax. But it has been cut a lot already, almost every year.
Hunt says cutting corporation tax would turbo-charge the economy. People say the Tories are the party of the rich. They must never fall into the trap of encouraging this idea.
Q: [To Johnson] Under your plan, people on £79,000 would not be in the higher tax rate?
Johnson says, as mayor of London, he increased the minimum wage.
But he also favours having a debate about the threshold for the higher rate of tax. He says people like nurses should not be in this bracket.
Q: Would it definitely go ahead?
Johnson says his priority would be to raise the tax threshold. But it is right to have an “ambition” to lift the threshold for the higher rate of tax.
Johnson appears to scale back his commitment to raising the higher rate tax threshold, describing it as just an “ambition”.
The questioner says the panel have not answered his question. There is a lot of confusion about this in Northern Ireland, he says. He hopes there will be more clarity in future.
